Last week I was in NY for a work trip and as soon as I got a few hours free on the weekend, I visited this amazing concept store in Soho.

While the entrance could be a bit intimidating (the lift from the road is a bit like: ‘Where the hell am I going?’), once you get at the 3rd floor you’re catapulted into the most beautiful light-filled open-air apartment in the heart of SoHo.

Last weekend it was Openhouse here in London, the most amazing architectural festival that gives free public access to lots of buildings in the capital and around the country. While most of the people generally hit for the iconic buildings in the city center, this year I opted to stay local and I discovered a beautiful gem just around the corner from my house:

This new build is designed by 6aArchitects and is nestled tightly into an irregular corner plot in North London and is split into three apartments.

The client – an artist and restaurateur – briefed the architects with a series of her own photographs depicting the stacking of everyday objects. The result is a minimal space, with a very strong character. The materials are rough ready, a perfect combination of wood, exposed concrete, brass and scratched white stucco.

Black Stone Building_ILBT

The featured staircase is the fluid that connects the 3 apartments. The top floor apartment is the most beautiful one and has been decorated by the homeowner with an exquisite taste using a mix of old and new pieces.

Life has been pretty hectic in the last few weeks, lots of deadlines at work, and trying to squeeze in my half-marathon training with the rest of the daily tasks it’s been pretty challenging….pffff relax that’s what I need!!!

This amazing Vincent Van Duysen Penthouse in Antwerp seems to offer the perfect place to relax and clear the mind. I wish I could spend some time there today:

I’ve always been a big fan of his architecture and style and this penthouse it’s not disappointing me: it seems to be a brilliant expression of his minimal style.

Say welcome to our new Lounge Chair (I still have to give her a name)!!! If you remember my last post about the top 10 Best Lounge Chair I had a clear idea that a Mid-Century piece was the style to go for.

I had almost decided to buy the IKEA EKENÄSET Armchair, but my boyfriend made the point that if we wanted a vintage style chair we should perhaps trying and look in a Vintage shop for an actual vintage one (good point, well made….). That’s where our research started: we visited few vintage flea market (there are lots here in London) and some antique shops, but we couldn’t find what we wanted (or it was out of budget). Continue reading “The Perfect Armchair”→